van Dyk Family Odyssey: 5 nights in Christchurch

We had a good long weekend in Christchurch. The weather was cloudy and drizzly but we took in the botanical gardens and museum, took the tram on a downtown tour, took in the aviation museum on a rainy day and found a fabulous park that the kids loved.

Bridge of Remembrance

Everything has or is being redone after the earthquake in the downtown area.

Loved the pattern in the stone by the bridge.

This guy was singing and playing a small wind instrument (maybe a piccolo?). He is almost completely blind but had a lot of talent.

The cathedral downtown is still in ruins since the 2011 earthquake. They don't know what to do with it yet - whether to try restore it or take it down and build new.

Still so much demolition and construction everywhere! Unbelievable how much damage was done. Over 70% of the buildings downtown had to be demolished and rebuilt. Some buildings had just reopened the week we were there.

The cardboard cathedral. Built largely of cardboard and corrugated plastic as a temporary place of worship (although it should last a long time and be a secondary cathedral once they decide what to do downtown).

Such a fun looking street :)

We thought this was the most ironic company name.

Playing twister near the REstart Mall. The temporary mall made out of shipping containers for all the shops without a "home". It's a pretty neat place actually. They hope to all be in permanent buildings by September.

Watching their donuts being made. Very intriguing!

We've been to some fun parks in New Zealand. They like their zip lines here! This one was a brand new one in Christchurch. So big and fun for the littles and bigs!